Property Care Strike Action
Magenta Living can reassure customers that low-risk asbestos in homes is safe and is dealt with in the safest possible way which often means it is left where it is. Click here to find out more about asbestos in your home. Asbestos was commonly used in buildings up to the year 2000 and therefore is in many properties built before this date. This isn’t unusual nor specific to Magenta Living as asbestos was used throughout most housing stock and in most other building types in the UK.
Following consultation with the Trade Union Unite for over two years over the implementation of asbestos essentials, safe working practices when dealing with low-risk asbestos materials, there is now a dispute relating to these revised health and safety working practices.
We see customer and colleague safety as a priority and have developed robust procedures with an independent industry expert who has confirmed this is the safest way of working around low-risk asbestos materials. These procedures follow Health and Safety Executive guidance, and we believe they mirror industry best practice widely adopted across the housing sector and amongst the construction industry nationwide. We have also employed an industry specialist to help address the perceived risk amongst our workforce including more advanced training.
Magenta Living has now been notified by Unite of intended strike action from Monday 6 February 2023 by members of our in-house repairs team, Property Care. Their action may affect the delivery of our usual repairs service as it is based on a week of industrial action followed by a week back at work across an eleven-week period. The dates of the proposed strike are week commencing:
- Monday 6 February (5 days) – week one of strike action
- Monday 20 February (5 days) – week two of strike action
- Monday 6 March (5 days) – week three of strike action
- Monday 20 March (5 days) - week four of strike action
- Monday 3 April (4 days) - week five of strike action
- Monday 17 April (5 days) - week six of strike action
We are deeply saddened that this strike action is planned despite us continuing to hold discussions throughout this week with the offer of additional remuneration, further training, help and support.
Magenta Living would like to advise all our customers that all emergency and urgent repair requests will be dealt with in the usual way when you call our 24/7 Contact Centre on 0808 100 9596. However, there may be some disruption to routine repairs being carried out which may need to be moved to a later date. Any customers affected in this way will receive a phone call from our Planning Team to rearrange a convenient appointment. For further information about emergency or urgent repairs, visit www.magentaliving.org.uk/repairs.
Repairs involving heating and hot water will be unaffected by the strike action.
Please note that customers contacting us with routine repairs during this time may be asked to call back at a later date.
We are deeply sorry for any inconvenience this may cause you.